Line-tightener.



No. 643,059. Patented Feb. 6, I900... L. 8. ans.

LINE TIGHTENEH.

(Application-filed June 22, 1899.)

' (No Model.)

3 M van r01 UNITED STATES PATENT O ICE.

LEWIS S. HlTE, OF MILLERSPORT, OHIO.

LINE-TIG HTHEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters-Patent No. 643,059, dated February 6, 1900.

A li ti fil d J 22, 1399, Serial No. 721,496. (No model.)

T0 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS S. HITE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Millersport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Ohio,-have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Line-Tighteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will en able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to means for taking up slack in wire, cord, rope, lines, or analogous devices, the device being of the type applicable to the line mid-air or at any point between its supports and adapted to take up the slack by winding it upon a spool or drum.

In its construction the device consists of a spool or drum having terminal journals and a transverse slot or opening extending through a side and in which the line is received, a frame composed of approximately parallel plates and oppositely-extending arms, the plates being connected at corresponding edges by a tie and having registering openings, in which the drum is journaled, and means for preventing the drum turning backward, the same consisting of a pawl and ratchet-teeth. The invention consists of the novel features which hereinafter will be more fully set forth and claimed and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The precise configuration and size of the parts are unimportantwithin the spirit of the invention. Hence it is to be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a line-tightener constructed in accordance with and embodying the essence of the invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom view. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line X X of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the drum.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The frame consists of plates 1, oppositelyextending arms 2, and a tie 3, the latter joining corresponding edges of the plates. These parts may be separately formed or consist of a single piece, either malleable cast metal or stamped from a plate, as required.- The arms 2 are oppositely disposed and project in diametrically opposite directions and curve inwardly toward their outer ends and terminate in hooks 4, the latter being in line with the center of the drum. The arms form prolongations of the plates 1 and taper in width towardtheir hooked terminals.

The drum or spool 5 has its ends reduced, forming journals 6, which obtain bearings in openings formed in the plates 1. One of the journals 6 terminates in an angular portion 7, which is adapted to receive a wrench or tool for turning the drum when it is required to tighten theline to which the device is applied. A portion intermediate of the bearing and angular parts is toothed, as shown at 8, and these teeth cooperate with a pawl to hold the druni from turning backward when the line is wound thereon. An opening or seat 9 is formed transversely through the drum at a central point, and a passage 10 extends therefrom in an oblique direction through a side of the drum and admits of the entrance and exit of the line from the opening 9. By having the passage formed obliquely the line when seated, in the opening 9 is retained therein against displacement when turning the drum to take up slack in the said line.

The pawl 11 is pivoted to the plate adjacent to the angular-ended journal and is held in contact with the teeth 8 by a spring 12, which is made fast at one end to the frame and has its opposite end free and bearing against the pawl. I I

The frame is either malleable,cast,or formed from a metal blank in the preferable construction, or may be composed of parts secured in any substantial manner. When the frame is of integral formation, the plates are spread sufficiently to admit of the end of the drum having the square portion being passed through the opening of one plate and the opposite journal being slipped into the opening of the other plate, after which the plates are brought together, so as to embrace the ends of the drum and prevent displacement thereof.

The plates being joined at one side of the frame, the other side is open for the free exit and entrance of the line or wire. When it is required to take up slack in a line, the latter is received in the opening 9 through the passage 10, and the hooks 4: of the arms are engaged with the line upon opposite sides of the drum, thereby fixing the tightener upon the line. The drum is turned by fittinga wrench or other tool to the angle end thereof. As the drum is turned the wire is wound thereon, the drum being prevented from backward rotation by means of the ratchet-teeth and pawl herein referred to.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is-- 1. A mid-wire iine-tightener, comprising oppositely-disposed longitudinal arms transversely spaced with their inner end portions overlapping and connected at one side bya transverse tie, the arms tapering and curving inward toward their ends and terminating in engaging hooks, a drum having its end portions reduced to form journals which are mounted in transversely alined openings formed in the spaced inner overlapping ends of the arms, one of the journals having an angular terminal portion to receive a wrench, and an intermediate toothed portion, and a pawl to engage with the toothed portion of the drum, as and for the purpose described.

2. A mid-wire line-tightener, consisting of oppositely-disposed longitudinal arms transverselyspaced with their inner ends overlapping and connected at one side by an integral transverse tie, the outer ends of the arms tapering and curving inward in opposite directions and terminating in engaging hooks, a drum having its end portions reduced, forming journals which are mounted in transversely-alined openings formed in the inner ends of the arms, one of the journals being extended and having an angular end portion and an intermediate toothed portion, said drum having a transverse opening about midway of its ends and an oblique passage leading from said opening through a side of the drum, and a pawl for engaging with the toothed portion of the drum, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS s. I-IITE. [n s.]

Witnesses: I

H. CLAY BRIsoN, LENNA TRIGG. 

